Sinister: A modular haptic gamepad

The Sinister gamepad has two features going for it, haptic feedback and interchangeable buttons that connect to the base with magnets. A company called Tavitas showcased a 3D-printed prototype of the gamepad at CES 2014. It will plug and play with Windows and Linux devices and an extra app will be downloadable to add more options.

I am not that excited about the interchangeable buttons unless it is totally customizable. I can definitely see the potential of being able to put the analog stick anywhere I want, at the moment it’s under the thumb similar to Razer’s Nostromo or configure it for either left-handed or one-handed use.

The haptic feedback uses ViviTouch, a new force feedback technology “acting like a speaker that produces feel rather than sound.” It is still in the early stages of development, but looks like a gamepad that could add some new and previously unexplored features to gaming with a proposed pricetag of around $100, about £60.

About The Author

Lily grew up in South Africa. After obtaining her degree in the beautiful wine region of Stellenbosch, she came to England for a holiday where she met Chris -and so she stayed. She worked for the NHS and then as a private consultant providing SEN focused training in primary schools across England and Wales. She got married, moved to Wiltshire and now lives near Stonehenge with Chris, their sensible seven-year-old Cass, disabled cat Jade and orange tiger (or so he insists), Nimitz.